The junior official from Feltham at the centre of the Home Office leak inquiry has spoken through his lawyer to insist he acted in the public interest.

The junior official from Feltham at the centre of the Home Office leak inquiry has spoken through his lawyer to insist he acted in the public interest.

Chris Galley, a 26-year-old civil servant who worked in Home Secretary Jacqui Smith's private office, was arrested on November 19 for allegedly passing on secrets to Tory front bench MP Damian Green.

Yesterday he appeared at a press conference in London where his lawyer, Neil O'May, insisted the leaked information was 'important for the public to know in an open and democratic parliamentary system'.

Mr O'May added: "In providing the information for a shadow minister, Mr Galley believed that it would be used in a highly responsible manner in the public interest."

The lawyer also questioned whether the police investigation had been 'necessary and proportionate' and said he still hoped his client would not be charged.

Mr Green (pictured) was arrested on Thursday as 20 anti-terror police searched his homes in London and Kent and his Commons offices. Tory MPs described the swoop as 'Stalinist'.

The raids came after the MP exposed secrets including the fact that 5,000 illegal immigrants had been cleared to work as security guards.